BAD PRESS - Mark Reviews Movies

Bad Press, Context Moves

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Review by Mark Dujsik | October 26, 2023

It is, perhaps, too easy to take journalistic freedom for granted in the United States, but Bad Press serves as a case study of why we shouldn't. This documentary covers the legal and political battle within the self-governing Muscogee Nation, based within Oklahoma, to enshrine freedom of the press into its Constitution. The reason is simple. Without it, a population that is aware of what its leaders are actually saying and doing is almost impossible. Without that, how can democracy survive?

The story of Rebecca Landsberry-Baker and Joe Peeler's film begins in 2018, just before a vote within the legislative body of the tribal government. At the time, the Muscogee Nation is one of only five tribes with protection of press freedom in its laws. As explained here, the history of tribal nations and their relationship with the press is a tricky one, considering a long history of stereotypes, mistruths, and outright lies about indigenous peoples that need to be countered. It's understandable, of course, but such good intentions are easily exploited, too.

Such is the case here. With only several votes, the free press law is overturned, and the independent media operation Mvskoke Media suddenly finds itself requiring government approval for every story its newspaper runs, its radio station broadcasts, and its video department publishes online.

Why did this happen? The answer is almost laughably obvious, if it weren't so frightening. Basically, the news outlet reported on sexual harassment allegations lodged against one member of the legislature. Add to that previous reports of criminal embezzlement that occurred under a different administration, leading to convictions and prison time for the perpetrators, and some of those in the tribal government are, apparently, rightfully scared that their own unethical or potentially criminal activities might come to light.

The narrative unfolds over the course of about three years, as employees, who remain after multiple resignations in protest, and those who left the operation work to amend the tribe's Constitution to include something akin to the journalistic protections of the United States' First Amendment. At its heart is reporter Angel Ellis, who speaks and behaves exactly as one would expect of a tough truth-seeker with righteous intentions on her side. She's also reasonably nervous, though, because she has lost jobs in the past for writing stories powerful people didn't want to be made public. With a family to support, her life pretty much on the line here.

There's a harrowing scene when one of those elected officials takes Ellis, who makes a public speech about the necessity of a free press, into a back office for a discussion and keeps her there for multiple hours. It's not as if we think anything especially terrible will happen, but as the sunlight fades and night falls, who's to say what is actually being said or done beyond view?

That's the key to it, obviously—that we need to know such information. Bad Press makes that case with a sense of history and in-the-moment urgency.

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